Cultural jobs on the rise as EU signs first-ever culture declaration

Comparatively speaking, jobs in culture may make up a small portion of the EU's labour market, but they're the basis for the livelihoods of millions across the bloc.In 2025, the EU's cultural sector employed 8.9 million people, representing 4.3% of total EU employment, according to the latest Eurostat figures.Between 2024 and 2025, the number of people employed in the cultural sector increased by 0.5 percentage points. This includes roles such as artists, musicians, and actors, among others.Nearly half of those employed in culture were aged between 30 and 49, and most people working in the cultural sector held at least a bachelor’s degree. This is followed by 31.3% of employees who had at least completed secondary school, and 6.7% of workers who had completed up to lower secondary education. In 17 of the 27 EU countries, cultural employment accounted for between 4% and 5% of total employment.